Both Sheerness RNLI lifeboats responded after a call reporting a yacht was aground and taking on water

The volunteer crew of the Sheerness RNLI all weather lifeboat The George and Ivy Swanson launched at 11.15pm on Friday 15 June after a call from the UK Coastguard reported that a yacht had run aground and was taking on water in the area of Grain Power Station outfall off the Isle of Grain directly across the estuary from the lifeboat station.

The lifeboat quickly located the 30-foot craft, which was lying on its port side and mostly submerged, with its lone male crew member out of the water and clinging to the rear guard rail of the craft.

The crew assisted the man aboard the lifeboat where he was assessed and other than being cold and slightly shocked was not suffering any other injuries.

Having removed the man, the inshore lifeboat was launched at 11.47pm to help in making the yacht secure to stop it from becoming a hazard in the busy shipping lane.

The craft was eventually secured to the marker beacon relating to the hazard where it had gone aground.

Having secured the craft, the lifeboats were stood down at 12.35 am and returned to station where the man was passed into the care of the Sheppey Coastguard Rescue team.

The yacht had initially run aground on a falling tide and with insufficient water for support it had canted over onto its side. When the tide turned the casualty was stuck fast on the rough ground and consequently became flooded as the water rose.

The man on board was left in a dangerous situation with only a small area of the yacht still above water for him to cling to.

A further call from the UK Coastguard at 11.56pm the following day reported that the same craft was in further difficulty in the same position as the previous night, this time with two men on board.

Both lifeboats were launched again but could not locate the craft in its previous location.

A call from the Medway VTS reported that the craft had been spotted at 10.00pm going past Garrison Point and so the lifeboats searched the area and eventually, with the aid of searchlights from on board the two Spritzer tugs from the port, found the craft at anchor in an unsafe position North of the Outfall Buoy off Sheerness.

Further communication from the UK Coastguard requested that the craft and its two occupants be towed to a place of safety so a tow line was attached and the vessel was taken to the all tide landing in Queenborough Harbour where the Sheppey Coastguard were once again waiting.

had returned to his craft in a small dinghy and had managed to pump the water out and get the vessel refloated only to get into difficulty again when he was unable to make headway against the strong tide and the strong South Westerly winds.

Both lifeboats were released at 1.25 am and after cleaning and refuelling were ready for service again at 1.50am.